Fame Star Debbie Allen: 'Directing Scandal Was a Love Fest'

Debbie Allen became a pop culture icon after starring in Fame and uttering the classic lines, "You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying — in sweat!" A lot has changed since the early 1980s.

We sat down with Allen to talk about today's celebrity culture, in which fame isn't so much about hard work or talent anymore. "Technology has made people famous who are not really gifted or talented," she tells us. "How does a sex tape make you famous?"

Allen has transitioned from a life in front of the camera to one behind it, directing episodes of some of the most popular series on television. Miss Allen opened up to us about her most exciting gig to date: taking the helm of Scandal. "I wanted it so bad," she says of booking the high profile gig. "It's a tough show. You have to know what you're doing. You're dealing with seasoned actors who love what they do." But, she says, ultimately, working on the show "was a love fest."

See more of Debbie Allen talking fame, Scandal and being a role model to young stars Queen Latifah andLil Kim in our exclusive video below!